Shoe-tree.



CHARLES FJ. BAILEY, OF PROVIDENCE, RIIGDE ISLAND.

SHOE-TREE.'

Speecation of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 15, 1907'.

' Application filed July l1, 1906. Serial No. 325,646.

vTo 'all whom 'it Vmay concern:

- Beit known that I, CHARLES E.. BAILEY, a citizen o the United States of America, and a resident of Provil dence, in the county oi Providence andState of RhodeA Island, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Shoe-Trees,v of 4Which the following is a specification. l

Shoe-trees as usually devised and employed lare conn' paratively heavy, cumbersome and expensive. Such former shoe-trees consist oiconnected or hinged blocks oi' wood or metal arranged when in use to practically lill the forward portion of the shoe, the upper sideof the block being previously shaped so as to conform to the normal curve or arch,ot` the shoe-upper or counter.

I am also aware that devices, each made of a single piece oi bent springwire, for stretching and exhibiting shoes and boots have Abeen produced prior to myinvention, and I therefore disclaim such, former constructions. l

The object I have in View is to produce an inexpensive flexible resilient and self-conforming shoe-tree, the device at the saine time being strong and light and occupying a very small amount of room when not in use. Moreover, the device is capable oi automatically adapting'or adjusting itself to the normal arclrot the shoe-upper, its two ends forming abutments or yieldingly engaging the toe'and heel portions of the shoes interior, all as more fully hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying sheet of drawings, Figure l represents a side elevation of my improved shoe-tree as in use.` the shoe being indicated by dotted lines. Fig. 2' shows an end portion of the device provided with a spherical-shaped tip. Fig. 3 is a corresponding plan view. Figs. 4 and 5 represent modified forms of the tip. Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional View,v greatly enlarged, taken on line :t o: of Fig. 3, -and Fig. 7 is a similar V sectional View, showing the device consisting oia plu- .Vrality of connected Wiresvarying in thickness or -provided with fixed tips or members adapted when in use to engage the toe and heel portions'of the shoes interior. I prefer to make my improved shoe-tree 0i a plurality of spring-steel Wires a, the same being arranged parallel with one another' and. connected vor-v united together by solder, thereby practically consti# tuting an integral or unitary member and being substantially rectangular'cross-sectionally, as represented in Fig. 6.- I

As thus constructed the main or body portion of the device is rendered stronger. and more resilient as compared with a piece of stock rolled, to a flat ribbon-form cross-sectionally. In fact the latter When tempered cannot be bent double Without breaking it,v Whereas Wh en the device is made substantially as represented in the drawings it becomes unbreakable.

The length of the member A should be materially greater than that ot the shoe in order that it may properly adapt or-adjust itself to the inner shape oi the slioc at the median line thereof.

I prefer to ti'p each end oi 'tlic body or rcsilicnt incinber With a fixed spherical-shaped metal member @las indicated in Figs. 2 and 3,altho'ugh othcn types oi tips'rnay be adopted, for example7 the tips b, fz and bl, represented in Figs. l, 4, and 5, respectively.

In order to increase the stiffness of` the device wilhout materially increasing its Weight the wirrs e coinprising the. shoe-treelinay be oi varying thickness or dia-meter and arranged and united substantially vas represented in Fig. 7.

My improved shoe-tree A is Well adapted to be readily introduced into and removed from the slice; it. is self-conforming and vserves to maintain the normal innershape of tire latter, as at the loe, upper and heel portions, vt, u and 7L, respectively, und being in yielding Contact therewith'. i

The device also forms a huil er lzandlix (al in Fig.l ll by means oi which the shoe may be conveniently carried about.

I claim as new und dcsireto secure yby Uniix-d Stains Lctters-Patentz- An elongated flexible resilient shoe tree provided al' its ends with rounded tips and consisting of a plurality Cf throughout their length with solder. said tree in use presentng.,v a single continuous arch evterulngfrom the base of the heel lo the toe of the shoe;

Signed at Providence. R. I., this 0th dei' of July, 1906il CHARLES E. BAiLEi Witnesses Gmo. H7 Rmuxetrox, HENRY?. STONE, 

